Faced with a high-stakes crunch for Odisha’s fourth Rajya Sabha seat, the BJD has performed a tactical U-turn. Despite suspending MLAs Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud in January for "anti-party activities," Naveen Patnaik is now urging them to vote in alignment with party policy.
With five candidates vying for four seats, the math is tight. While the BJP is poised to secure two seats and the BJD one, the fourth remains a dramatic battleground.
For two days, BJD lawmakers have huddled at Naveen Niwas, where the Chief Minister is reportedly drilling a "victory mantra" to ensure not a single vote is wasted or rejected.
As the Congress also tightens its ranks, the BJD’s reliance on its "disciplined" outcasts highlights the desperation to secure a second win. All eyes are now on whether Patnaik’s eleventh-hour strategy will pay off at the polls this Monday.